DENVER—December 19, 2012—Investment Management Consultants Association® (IMCA®) today introduced a Certification Prep Center designed to help CIMA® certification candidates organize their studies and prepare for exams throughout the certification process. Average initial pass rates in 2012 for the CIMA qualification exam and CIMA certification exam are 60 percent and 53 percent, respectively. IMCA’s CIMA certification earned third-party accreditation by American National Standards Institute in 2011, distinguishing it as the only financial services designation in the United States to meet international standards for personnel certification (ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024).

“CIMA certification has become the industry standard for investment advisors and consultants, and we encourage those who recommend or select investments for individual or institutional clients to consider earning the certification,” said Sean R. Walters, CAE, executive director and CEO at IMCA. “On average, CIMA certification candidates devote 300 hours to self-study. Our new prep center provides a broad array of resources to help candidates better understand the subject matter upon which they are tested.”

In addition to being tested on all aspects of delivering investment advice, CIMA certification candidates must meet a three-year experience requirement, complete the executive education component at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, or The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and adhere to IMCA’s Code of Professional Responsibility.

Though not required, the new Certification Prep Center resources are complimentary for CIMA certification candidates who are also IMCA members. Prep center resources include the following:

A revamped sample question database with more than 400 questions, including practice exams, section quizzes, and calculation-only exams.

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